Intakes of Processed Meat and Red Meat in Koreans Are Far Below the Level Referred to Increase the Risk of Colorectal Cancer by IARC

Abstract

Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has released the result of the evaluation on the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat (RM) and processed meat (PM). Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer. And, the experts concluded that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. This prompted us to look into the RM and PM intake of the Korean population using the dietary intake data collected by 24‐hr recall method from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Data from 2010 through 2013 KNHANES were merged to increase the statistical power while giving equal weighs to each year data and analyzed. Beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, goat, boar, rabbit and whale meat was included in RM, and hot dogs, ham, sausages, bacon, beef jerky, beef patty as well as canned meat was considered PM. Although the intake per capita per day was 57.13±0.93 g (mean±SE) for RM and 6.82±0.22 g for PM, adolescent boys and young men showed a mean RM intake close to 100 g/person/day, the level cited for a possible increase of cancer risk by 17%. However, mean PM intake was much lower than the referred level even in the aforementioned subpopulations. In general, intake among females were about half of that among males for each age group examined. Even though it is not clear if there is any threshold in RM or PM intake for a definite increase in cancer risk, it seems quite plausible to say that current intake of PM and RM among Koreans are low enough to be away from serious health concern yet. However, cautions need to be exercised not to increase RM intake any further among adolescent boys and young men especially. Government's effort to conduct risk assessments in order to balance the risks and benefits of eating RM and PM and to provide the best possible dietary recommendations is warranted.